Parents SLAM Jamie Oliver over claims that school bake sales should be banned

Jamie Oliver has been slammed by parents following his claims that school cake and bake sales should be banned.

The celeb chef – who’s notorious for his outspoken opinions on children’s diet and eating habits in the UK – said that schools are sending out the wrong message to children by holding cake and bake sales.

In his latest move, the dad-of-five has taken aim at unhealthy food, claiming that salads and other nutritious foods are shunned out of sight.

A report for the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation read: ‘The culture of high fat and sugary foods used as rewards, in fundraising and in celebrations, is creating social and physical environments that contradict children’s food education.’

Jamie and his family

A lot of parents across the UK took to Twitter to share their outrage at the claims: ‘Moaning on about school bake sales. I suppose he knows a lot about cakes being a MASSIVE FUNSPONGE himself,’ said one.

While another posted: ‘So it’s ok to eat cake, as long as Jamie Oliver makes it.. What a hypocrite.’

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Another Twitter user didn’t pull any punches: ‘F**k off Jamie Oliver. You already ruined school lunches.’ While this user said: ‘Is jamie oliver still complaining about foods in school? I still haven’t forgiven him for banning turkey twizzlers in like 2006.’

‘There’s nothing unhealthy about a bake sale. Encourages kids to do a fun activity at home and raises money for’ said another.

Whereas this brave soul dared to agree with the celebrity chef: ‘Have to agree with #JamieOliver on this one. Schools obsession with cake sales is unhealthy and we shouldn’t be encouraging kids to consume MORE sugar.’

Across the UK, a staggering 86 per cent of secondary school teachers and 85 per cent of primary school teachers admitted that their school fundraising activities included cake and bake sales, according to research cited in the report.

In a foreword on the report, Jamie said: ‘We’ve found that there’s a massive difference between the schools that are doing a great job at delivering food education and those that are struggling.

‘We are alarmed at the concerns raised about the food available, particularly in secondary schools.

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‘But at the same time, we are really motivated by the teachers, pupils and parents asking for a healthier school environment.’

Jamie’s findings come after figures published on Thursday found that childhood obesity is at record levels, with one in 10 children now ‘dangerously fat’ before they start school.

What do you think? Does the celebrity chef have a point? Let us know in the comments box below.